Transcript

Tour operators in Vanuatu are waiting on government endorsement of new regulations aimed at defusing tensions involving transport operators.

There have been a spate of incidents, including scuffles between tour operators and public transport providers over fares and an attack on a woman who condemned the behaviour.

The woman, who commented on social media, was abducted and assaulted last weekend.

The vice president of Port Vila's Cruise Tourism committee says the tensions are partly due to increased pressure on public transport operators caused by fewer flights into Vanuatu.

But John Tonner told Koroi Hawkins there are long running issues over accountability and poor organisation of Vanuatu's public transport sector.

JOHN TONNER: The Vanuatu government is expected to endorse a traffic management plan for the Port Villa cruise ship terminal, an endorsement is expected at the end of this week. The endorsement has come after consultation with land transport, market vendors, the industry and other stakeholders due to the stress on local transport with the restricted aviation services, there is some desperation within the local economy for income and business activity. The tragic and unacceptable circumstances at the wharf in recent weeks we would hope is not repeated nor is it reflective of the wonderful hospitality shown by Port Villa and Vanuatu to the tourism sector.

KOROI HAWKINS: So the situation you have here is airports are reduced capacity, you have the same number of taxi drivers fighting over passengers from cruise ships and it's resulting in conflicts with established crews, providers, and the unofficial or taxi drivers just looking for the fares that they chance upon?

JT: It think that that may be a part of the problem, probably the part of the problem that would have more reference is I guess the lack of transport structure and infrastructure, not just the physical infrastructure but the methodology, the structure of compliance, the management. Because the growth of the cruise industry has been so strong that Vanuatu like a lot of the countries in the South Pacific and the broader cruise industry are struggling to keep up with the continued positive growth.

KH: And this new measure that's coming in, what will that hopefully change and how does that plan to change things?

JT: The initiative has been based out of the Port Vila cruise tourism committee which is under the Department of Tourism and the initiative involves stakeholders in the development of the plan. What it hopes to achieve is a structured operational format for traffic management and market vendors on cruise ship days so the ultimate outcome of the plan is all industries related to the cruise industry within Port Vila's wonderful destination will have some level to a varying degree of reform that will need to be implemented. At the moment all stakeholders are on board and very supportive but because it's a government initiative and led by government we need the final endorsement from government to support the plan so that it can be enforced on the ground.

KH: So this would involve registering people so that everyone knows whose days are when and who's allowed to do what, is that the idea?

JT: That's a broad summary but that's spot on, if we had to put some words it's accountability, traceability and responsibility.